As a young adult growing up in the 21st century, bombarded by constant conflict in the news and media, life can seem hopeless and uncertain. It seems that headlines only highlight the bad things happening in the world, and social media is full of people complaining about life’s hardships.
As a Catholic, I struggle to stay positive and need constant reminders of how to find joy in my day-to-day when everyone around me is only blasting a message of doom.
These things weighed heavily on my heart, and it wasn’t until this Easter that I found an answer that has helped me stay hopeful.
At the Easter Vigil Mass, my husband and I were blessed to be sponsors for a friend who was baptized and confirmed into the Catholic Church! It was such a beautiful experience and brought me a lot of peace and comfort. When I got home that night, my entire social media pages were full of young people, mostly Gen Z, who were posting that they had also joined the Catholic Church that same night!
I felt an immense sense of hope and joy for all these people! I would later find out that my friend was one of thousands of people who had joined the Church across the world! (The Archdiocese of Los Angeles welcomed 8,500+ Catholics that night alone.)
Soon after this, I began to notice that Catholic imagery was making its way to pop culture again, with big celebrities like Rosalia and Bruno Mars being inspired by prayer in their music and performances.
Bruno Mars reel: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DW-96EYB-q3/
These things opened my eyes to something that I already knew but didn’t remember until now: the Church is clearly offering something to young people that cannot be found in this world of bad news. As Catholics, we are called to preach the Gospel, which literally means “Good News”, and I think that’s why the Church stands out so much.
So today, I want to share with you different ways that the Church offers good news to Gen Z and the rest of the World!
4 Ways The Catholic Church Offers “Good News” To Young Adults
1. Young Saints
All throughout history, the Church has highlighted young saints who lived for the Gospel, such as St. Agnes or St. Therese of Lisieux. But in recent years, the Church has introduced new young adult saints who lived not too long ago!
The most popular of these being St. Carlo Acutis (who died in 2006, only 20 years ago), Blessed Chiara Badano, and St. Pier Giorgio Frasatti.
Saints are meant to be our role models, people who show us the way to love God in our day-to-day. This is why St. Carlo Acutis created such an interest among Gen Z Catholics. He showed young people that it is possible to become saints and play video games while you’re at it!
2. Traditional Latin Mass (or The Tridentine Mass)
The Latin Mass has gained a lot of popularity among Gen Z Catholics. This traditional liturgy offers young Catholics an escape from the modernity and noise of the world through the silence and full reverence it shows during the celebration of Mass. In this liturgy, the priest faces the altar and the entire congregation joins him, therefore giving all the attention and glory to God.
In addition to this, many young women are also opting to wear veils in mass, not only in the Latin Mass but newer liturgies as well. These young ladies are refusing to believe that it is “oppressing” to cover their heads but rather do this gesture out of respect for themselves and reverence for God.
This liturgy has become so popular that it has sparked a new fire and discussion in the church!
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DWXleE3hrf-/
If you want to learn more about the Latin Mass but don’t know what to expect, check out our article explaining this liturgy in more detail: Click here!
3. Catholic Missionary Movements
In a world that prioritizes selfishness and comfort, the Catholic Church has preached a completely different message: feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, teach the ignorant, comfort the sorrowful. (See the full list of the Corporal Works of Mercy and Spiritual Works of Mercy, the long Catholic tradition of how we must serve others.)
Young people are finding fulfillment through service in the Church and surrender to God, with several movements run mostly through missionaries!
Now, many college students, instead of taking a summer or gap year to find internships or jobs, are offering their lives to preach the Gospel with others!
Here are only a couple of the missionary movements that are making an impact in the Church:
· FOCUS – centered on ministering to college students and creating the SEEK conferences
· Damascus – ministering the Church through Catholic summer camp for middle school and high school kids
· Net Ministries – a movement for youth ministry and retreats throughout the country
4. The Resurrection!
The everlasting message of good news that the Church offers to all Christians is that Jesus has triumphed over death by His resurrection!
It can be discouraging to see all the bad things happening in the news and wonder if there is any good left in the world. But the message of the Gospel is simple: Christ has resurrected, and He has given us eternal life.
“For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22)
Fr. Mark-Mary Ames gave a great reminder for us believers on how to handle the evil that’s going on in the world, through a hopeful perspective of repentance and seeking Jesus.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGVg1MGI8i4
I believe that many people are realizing that a life without God is one without hope. Gen Z is discovering that a life with God is worth living, and I am here for it!
Let this be a reminder to you that in times of turmoil and despair, the Church will always offer the joy and comfort of a life with Christ. It only takes an open heart to seek Him out!
Image: Photo by Kyle Smith on Unsplash
